Tippecanoe County Sheriff reacts to drugs in jail

Tippecanoe County Sheriff Barry Richard said he is looking into buying a body scanner after three correctional officers were exposed to narcotics at the jail on Jan. 10.

Posted: Feb. 9, 2018 7:49 PM

Updated: Feb. 9, 2018 7:56 PM

Posted By: Kayla Sullivan

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Tippecanoe County Sheriff Barry Richard said he is looking into buying a body scanner after three correctional officers were exposed to narcotics at the jail on Jan. 10.

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Richard said the scanner would be able to tell if inmates sneak in drugs inside their bodies.

He said it would cost around $200,000. Sheriff Richard said he could pay for it using commissary funds.

Sheriff Richard said the officers required narcan from both jail staff and paramedics for treatment.

However, investigators still haven't been able to tell how the officers were exposed to drugs. Richard said they were wearing gloves and following proper procedures at the time.

"So, that makes the investigation and the determination of the whole incident that much more difficult," said Richard. "We don't know for sure, but we are taking proactive measures to make sure it doesn't reoccur."

Richard also said the department will start regularly sweeping the jail with K-9s next week.